We love the thrill of the new. We also love what really, truly works. Here's why (and how) alpha hydroxy acids (glycolic, lactic, and citric among them) and beta hydroxy acids (namely salicylic) should be your skin-care staples.

YOUR SKIN DOESN'T HAVE TO PEEL WITH A PEEL.

While earlier versions of acid-based exfoliating treatments could make skin visibly slough away, the latest formulas leave skin glowing, not flaking. Many include several alpha and beta hydroxy acids, rather than just one at a higher concentration. "When you combine acids at lower strengths, they're potentially less irritating," says New York City dermatologist Dennis Gross. And you don't have to see peeling to see results. "As the acid dissolves the cement between skin cells, you may have thousands of them coming off at the same time—but the shedding is still invisible to the naked eye," says Neal Schultz, a clinical professor of dermatology at Mount Sinai Medical Center in New York City.